The deterioration of international situation, the outbreak of the Second World War (1939) seriously hit Romania, as the big totalitarian powers broke her territorial integrity. In 1940, in the wake of ultimatums addressed to the Romanian Government, the Soviet Union occupied Basarabia and the North of Bucovina, while Germany and Italy decided by the Vienna Award that the Northern part of Transylvania be ceded by Romania to Hungary. The Kadrilater, Southern part of Dobrogea, was ceded to Bulgaria.

In June 1941, Romania entered the war waged by Germany against the Soviet Union, aiming at gaining back Basarabia and Northern Bucovina. In 1943-1944, Romanian political leaders carried secret talks with the United Nations but with no positive results.

By the August 23, 1944 coup, Romania withdrew from her alliance with Germany and joined the United Nations. This move caused at the time broad comments, appreciated as a major event of the Second World War.

Although the Romanian Army paid a heavy toll of blood in the struggle against Germany, the Paris Peace Conference (1946-1947) did not recognize Romania's cobelligerent status, being treated as a defeated state.

According to an understanding among the great powers - the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain - Romania, together with other central and south-east European states, fell into Soviet domination sphere, which would influence her historical destinity for four long decades.

1940. Map showing the heavy territorial rawishments suffered by Romania (Basarabia and Northern Bucovina - horizontal strips) in wake of enforcement of the 1939 Soviet-German Pact; Northern- Eastern Transilvania (vertical strips) in wake of the Diktat imposed at Vienna by Nazi germany and Italy; Dobrogea (Kadrilater - oblique strips) ceded to Bulgaria.

Last update: 1999, August 18
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